Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Why is Ireland so hostile to Israel? Why do the Irish support BDS? What Is It about Israel that upsets them?

During her formative years, Israel received significant support in
Ireland. Having experienced religious persecution themselves, the Irish
identified with Jews. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case,
according to Professor James Bowen of the National University of Ireland
at Cork.

Bowen, who serves as national chairman of the Ireland-Palestine
Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), says the initial sympathy expressed towards
Israel disappeared when the Irish learned how the Arabs were
“dispossessed” of their land in 1948 and then experienced the “horrors
of the post-1967 occupation.” Founded on November 29, 2001, the IPSC has no policy regarding the
future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rather, according to Bowen,
it believes the decision to turn the area into two states, a federated
state, or a single state should be made by the Palestinians and
Israelis, who, the group says, have a legitimate interest in the
outcome.

Promoting BDS

However, IPSC does not see itself as merely an interested party
trying to support both sides. The group and its national chairman have
taken a prominent role in promoting the Boycott-Divestment-and-Sanction
(BDS) movement in Ireland against Israel. In fact, Irish academics have
been particularly adamant in their efforts to have Israeli academic
institutions boycotted.

In a letter to the Irish Times dated September 16, 2006, 61
Irish professors signed a petition urging academic institutions
throughout the world to adopt a policy of boycotting Israeli
institutions of higher education.

The date was no coincidence. The Irish professors, calling themselves
Academics for Justice, published their letter on the anniversary of the
1982 massacre in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut,
Lebanon. In that incident, thousands of Arab civilians, mostly Lebanese
Shiites and Palestinians, were killed by a militia controlled by the
Philange, a predominantly Christian-Lebanese party. The Philange claimed
the attack on Sabra and Shatila was retaliation for the assassination
of then-newly elected Lebanese-Christian president Bachir Gemayel.
Although Israeli soldiers did not participate in the massacre, the IDF,
which was already in the area, did nothing to stop it.

Academics for Justice have proclaimed September 16 as Ireland’s “Boycott Israel” day. [...]

More Irish Demonizing of Israel
But teachers are not the only segment of society promoting BDS
against Israel in Ireland, where a de facto cultural boycott of the
Jewish state has been in effect for years. A classified Israeli Foreign
Ministry report revealed in December 2011 that, for more than a decade,
no Israel dance or theatrical company, musician, or filmmaker had been
invited to Ireland. Thirty-four Irish artists—one-fifth of all Irish
performers receiving public funds—signed a petition calling for a
cultural boycott against Israel. Irish artists and performers interested
in maintaining relations with Israel are subjected to verbal and
written attacks.

The Irish press regularly demonizes Israel and tirades against the
Jewish state’s leaders are published in the name of “human rights.”